How do employees’ strengths use for tasks and strengths use for relationships interact to influence their job performance?

Abstract

Purpose Drawing on prior research on strengths use and job performance, this study aims to investigate how employees’ strengths use for tasks and strengths use for relationships jointly influence role breadth self-efficacy and subsequent job performance, specifically in- and extra-role performances. Design/methodology/approach To test the assumptions, the authors methodologically performed a polynomial regression with response surface analysis using data collected from multiple time points and sources (i.e. 312 employee–supervisor dyads in Chinese companies). Findings The results showed that the higher the congruence between strengths use for tasks and strengths use for relationships, the higher the employees’ role breadth self-efficacy. Employees’ role breadth self-efficacy was greater when both strengths use for tasks and strengths use for relationships were high. Furthermore, the congruence between strengths use for tasks and strengths use for relationships had indirect effects on in- and extra-role performances via role breadth self-efficacy. Originality/value This study uniquely contributes to the strengths use literature by offering a more nuanced understanding of the consequences of strengths use for tasks and strengths use for relationships in the Chinese context. It highlights the importance of both types of strengths use for improving employee performance in Chinese organizations. Furthermore, this study provides new theoretical insights into the relationship between strengths use and job performance by ascertaining the mediating effect of role breadth self-efficacy.